Hattie Collins
We speak to Exeter-based theatre maker, Hattie Collis. Her creations are produced in studio theatres, community settings and rural performance venues.
What do you do?
I am a playwright and producer, creating female led work that has nuanced relationships at its heart. I run the theatre company, Almanac, which produces female led new writing, and supports SW playwrights. I run the Exeter Playwrights Cafe (first Thursday of the month) at Exeter Phoenix. I also work part time at Theatre Alibi.
Almanac started in 2023 and has toured in the South West and to London. My work has previously been supported by Arts Council England, Theatre Royal Plymouth, Down Stage Write, The Causley Trust, Swings & Roundabouts, and I am currently one of Paines Plough’s mentored writers for their Tour The Writer scheme.
Who do you work with and why?
I have worked with producers, directors, musicians, illustrators, graphic designers, stage managers, production managers, performers, writers, photographers, lighting designers, AV designers, sound designers, and more to make my work happen. It takes a village to make theatre!
I have a particular affinity to performing in the SW and nurturing the audience and new writing sector in this part of the country. My previous play Kindle was about rural community so I worked with people who live in rural parts of Devon and Cornwall to create a short illustrated film, which you can watch here. And for my most recent commission, through the Creative Arc, I am working with local artists to create public art and deliver workshops for the Wonford community based around the themes of my new play The Fallout. Community and place have a central position in the work I create.
The Fallout (photo credit to Emily Appleton)
Name one thing that would make your life easier as an artist or arts organiser.
To lose that self doubt that always creeps up on you as you start a project, and that crops up halfway through, and then again just before (and during) sharing it.
And what keeps you going when things get tough?
Returning to the fact that I do what I do because it brings me joy and purpose, even without the money. Trying to rely on creativity alone to fund yourself can be very stifling for creativity (especially now, given how difficult the funding landscape is) - its never a bad thing to get your main stream of income from elsewhere.
Talk us through a favourite project or piece.
My favourite piece is Every Brilliant Thing by Duncan Macmillan. Every Brilliant Thing is a one person, joyful and hopeful play, about depression. It is a play that reminds you of beautiful things in life, whilst also deeply delving into the impact of suicide and depression. Not only is the story life-affirming and reminds you of the smaller miracles in life, but I love how versatile it can be, and it’s need for audience interaction.
It is a fantastic example of a play that can happen is a theatre space one day, and a village hall the next, but still have the same impact. And the audience are an integral part of the play, in a way that isn’t intimidating, and really makes you feel like you’re part of the journey.
Images taken from workshops held at Wynstream Primary School, Exeter, with permission from parents and school for use.
What does the next year look like for you?
We will be touring The Fallout, which has been supported by the Creative Arc Commission through its rewrite. We will be performing it in Exeter, Taunton, Bristol, Weston Super Mare, North Devon and London.
What’s been the best moment for you in the last year?
Last year we toured a new play of mine, Kindle, to VAULT Festival where we received four star reviews and were nominated for the ORIGINS award. This felt like a huge achievement after being thrown into such a big pool of exciting emerging work but still being noticed and recognised.
In what ways are you helping to put Exeter on the cultural map, nationally or internationally?
With Almanac I hope to create more opportunity for new writing in the South West, especially in Exeter, fostering a more self sufficient new writing ecology here in this part of the country.
What if ….?
I think Exeter Culture leading on bringing in grants and funded opportunities for artists in the city to apply for is a fantastic thing, and perhaps then sharing this skill with the artists themselves would be brilliant. As an emerging writer, it has been vital to learn more about how to self fund my work and create opportunities for myself.
How do we find out more?
To keep in the loop with projects you can visit my website and sign up to the mailing list too www.almanactheatre.co.uk or follow on social media @almanactheatre
And tell us about any events/gigs/workshops/etc you’ve got coming up that we can flag up to readers!
As of Summer 2024, I was commissioned via the Creative Arc programme to rewrite my new play, The Fallout, and create exciting participatory community activities based on the themes of the play. We delivered street art workshops to Wynstream Primary School, whose creations will be used to inspire a community led mural painted by the emerging local artist Josh Elvey. The main themes of The Fallout are seeds and growing, so the mural and surrounding activities will be inspired by this.
On the 10th August 3.30pm, you’re welcome to join us for the culmination of this Creative Arc commission with the Big Reveal of the community mural, and a new seed library at Wonford Community Centre. This will be a family friendly day with workshops, face painting and a bouncy castle! As well as this, at 8pm there will be a sharing of the early stage R&D version of my new play, The Fallout. You can find out more, and book your free ticket to see the play here.
The Fallout Cultivate Sessions are funded with the support of the Creative Arc Programme, an initiative funded by the University of Exeter, Exeter City Council and the UK government through the Shared Prosperity Fund.